Inflated apparatus for preventing drowning and assisting swimming.



J. J. PRITCHARD.

INFLATED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DROWNING AND ASSISTING SWIMMING.

APPLICAHON HLEp'pcT. 9. I915.

Pa tentd' 1, 1918.

msmyo JOHN JAMES PBITCHARD. or. BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.-

INFLATED, APPARATUS FOR'PREVENTING DRGWNING AND ASSISTING SWIMMING.

Application filed October 9, 1915. Serial m. 55,044.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that. I, JOHN JAMES PRITCH- Aim, subject of the Kingof Great Britain, residing at t Reddings road, Moseley, Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inflated Apparatus for Preventing Drowning and Assisting Swimming, of which the following is a specification.

Inflated apparatus for preventing drowning and assisting swimming to be worn in the form of bands around the body and around the neck has been previously proposed, but in every instance such apparatus needs to be buckled or tied on the wearer.

The invention relates to this type of inflated band apparatus and provides a combination arrangement in which the two inflated bands are formed or joined together as a one piece part to constitute two permanent elastic rings, one adapted to encircle the neck and the other the body of the wearer immediately under the arms, and which rings are distinctive by stretching for putting on and by automatically holding themselves on the wearer without any buckling or tying on being necessary. However, auxiliary tapes, strap and buckle, or similar fastenings are provided and which may be found advantageous for holding the two bands or rings together and from moving apart opposite to where the said two bands form or join up into rings.

The invention is represented by the accompanying sheet of drawings.

Figure 1 shows a plan of the apparatus formed by two inflated rings whose air space communicates.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan similar to Fig. 1 where the air spaces of the two rings are separate.

Fig. 4 shows the manner of wearing'the apparatus shown.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the two inflated bands at and 0 are molded normally as two elastic rings of the required diameters with communicating air space and the fastening devices g and h are applied to them in the manner shown.

The ring a is adapted to encircle the body at a point under the arms while the ring 0 is adapted to be placed around the neck of the person, and as shown in Fig. 4, it will be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

found preferable to have the connecting piece (l of the two rings 0 and a to be situated over thechest of the person.

In Fig 3 the two inflated rings are molded similarto" Figs. 1 and 2but without comm'unicatin'g air space, said two rings being permanently joined together at d by an intervening web or piece of india-rubberorfab- "ric, the fastenings g and it being similarly fitted to these two rings.

In the production of the apparatus the inflated tube or tubes would be either of indiarubber capable of standing considerable inflation, or of thinner india-rubber covered with silk or other fabric, and where the strap fastenings, such as g and h, are applied said tubes would be additionally strengthened. The fastenings g and h, in this instance comprising, as shown, a strap and buckle connection, are adapted to connect and draw the rings a and 0 together at points opposite to where they are permanently joined. It will be understood that this fastening means will hold the rings against their normal tendency to straighten and will consequently free the throat of all pressure when the apparatus is worn in a reverse manner to that shown in Fig. 4, and will prevent the head of the wearer from being pressed downwardly when worn in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

Valves such as g are provided for the infiation of the tubes either by mouth or force pump.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the apparatus is put on the wearer without any tying or buckling whatever: it stretches when being put on and contracts tightly onto the body and neck when on, and it will positively hold itself on the wearer because it has no fastening which must remain in tact for holding it on.

The auxiliary fastenings g and 7b are not absolutely necessary in case of emergency, but if there is time they are used as they facilitate swimming and hold the two bands in their most effective positions around the body and neck of the wearer.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is 1. An apparatus of the class specified, comprising two endless inflatable bands which are both bodily stretchable lengthwise and of differing diameters to respectively independently fi-t thew-carer around the neck and around the body under the arms, the bands being permanently connected at one portion and having, separable fastening means at diametrically opposite portions thereof.

2. An apparatus of the class specified, comprising two endless inflatable bands which are both bodily stretchable lengthwise and of differing diameters t0 respectively independently fit the wearer around the neck and around the body under the arms, the bands being permanently secured to each other ,at one portionby an air-conveying connection to provide communication between the. two bands, the bandsat points Copies of v this patent maybe obtained for diametrically opposite the saidconnection also having separable fastenlng devices.

'3. An apparatus of the class specified,

' the bands being permanently connected at one portion. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. a

, JOHN JAMES PRITGHARD. Witnesses: Y

GEO. FREERY, '1 D. LEAKER.

five cents each,-, by addressing the Commissioner of 'Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

